2022 Lexus RX

Lexus RX 2021-2022 Review

It’s one of the most important products for the Lexus brand, and arguably a model that defined the segment in its own unique way. The Lexus RX was the premier SUV from the Japanese luxury car company for an extremely long time, and it also represented a rather interesting position within the market when compared to either the established British offerings at the time, or the sporty European counterparts.

The Lexus RX combined Japanese reliability with a deep understanding of luxury and build quality, in a package that was priced competitively and appealing for the masses. There’s a reason that the model, and its Toyota Harrier sister, was so often imported through parallel channels over the first few generations. As market expectations changed and model sizes grew, the Lexus RX diverged from its Toyota sibling, becoming a much bigger and well-rounded product.

What you see here today is fourth generation of the product, first launched locally back in 2015 with a facelift introduced in 2019. Initially there were four different variants on offer – including a hybrid model – but by 2019, the number of powertrain options was down to a singular turbocharged unit, and offered with three different trim levels.

From a design perspective. This generation of the Lexus RX follows the Japanese brand’s most modern design language, with a large dominating spindle grille, and sharp angular lines from bumper to bumper. For the time being, the Lexus RX is only offered in its five-seater form, although for a time Lexus Malaysia did offer a seven-seater variant in the form of the Lexus RX L.

Lexus RX 2021-2022 Specifications

As mentioned earlier, there is but one powertrain on offer for the Lexus RX – and it’s one that is found in everything from the Lexus IS to the Lexus GS. It’s a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine, four cylinders wide, and bearing the codename 8AR-FTS. The turbocharger is a twin-scroll unit, and the total system output is 235 hp and 350 Nm of torque.

Power is distributed across all four wheels – a rarity before this – through a six-speed conventional automatic transmission. The top speed is limited to 200 km/h, with all variants of the Lexus RX acceleration to 100 km/h from a standstill in just 9.5 seconds. The overall platform design is a MacPherson strut front with a double wishbone at the rear – the latter of which contributing to excellent body control and dynamics without sacrificing comfort.

Specific to the range-topping RX 300 F SPORT are performance dampers at the front and rear, which tie in with the extra SPORT S and SPORT S+ drive modes available to this specific model. Other variants get the regular ECO, NORMAL, and SPORT drive modes to work with.

In terms of overall length, the Lexus RX measures at a whopping 4,890 mm, with a width of 1,895 mm and a height of 1,690 mm. The wheelbase is relatively small within these confines at 2,790 mm – Lexus isn’t known for their short overhangs – giving decent interior space though not exactly providing miles of legroom for the exterior dimensions.

Lexus RX 2021-2022 Exterior

All variants of the Lexus RX get LED headlamps, daytime running lights, and tail lamps, as well as 20-inch wheels at each corner – although the F SPORT variant has a unique specific design. Roof rails are also limited to the RX 300 F SPORT. The front grille for the F SPORT variant is also unique in its aggression, though all variants have a fairly dominating front grille.

Lexus RX 2021-2022 Interior

Interiors are fairly similar across the range, with the only defining characteristic of the range-topping RX 300 F SPORT being its red leather interior that truly stands out among luxury vehicles. It also gets aluminium trim over the regular wood trim, and the same can be said of the steering wheel material and finishing. The other two variants get semi-anline leather and regularly shaped front seats as opposed to the aforementioned F SPORT leather and F SPORT shaped seats.

Lexus RX 2021-2022 Safety Features

Safety features and functionality across the Lexus RX range are fairly flat, with all variants getting the front pre-collision system and dynamic radar cruise control, as well as lane tracing assist, lane departure assist, and adaptive high beams. Active cornering assist is also common for all variants, while only the RX 300 F SPORT variant gets the vehicle dynamic integrated management that ties in with the dampers and other systems.

Common items are also standard through the range – 10 airbags throughout the cabin, electronic stability and traction control, hill-start assist, tyre pressure monitoring, blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors.

Lexus RX 2021-2022 Strengths & Weakness

The most immediate weakness of the Lexus RX has to be the price range it sits in. For the same amount of money, you could buy contemporary European alternatives with larger capacities and arguably the same amount of functionality and features – and this has been a sore point across the entire Lexus range for a while now, through no fault of their own. If there’s anything to blame, it’s our import duties and policies.

As for the strengths of the Lexus RX, they are not things you can see in a brochure or read about in an article – these are things you have to see, touch, and feel in person. The build quality of Lexus’ products is exemplary, going far beyond most cars on the market, both in terms of design and complexity, and overall fit and finish. It results in a car that feels more expensive than it should be, even if it doesn’t seem that way on paper.

There are also the more traditional elements that Lexus brings to the table, like impeccable refinement and comfort. The Lexus RX is capable of swallowing highway miles with ease, keeping occupants well rested and relaxed throughout your journey. To say it stands out among its rivals is no small praise, as there’s a lot to live up to in this segment.

Lexus RX 2021-2022 Price

Entry to the Lexus RS range starts at RM 385,306.50 for the RX 300 Premium. This goes up to RM 410,785.50 for the RX 300 Luxury, while the range-topping RX 300 F SPORT will run you RM 425,187.00. All of these prices are inclusive of whatever exemptions are currently in place, and include a five-year warranty with unlimited mileage.

Lexus RX 2021-2022 Features

Features and functionality are decent through the Lexus RX range, with dual-zone climate control, a 12-speaker sound system with Lexus Premium Audio, Apple Car Play and Android Auto, and keyless entry and start being common. Small items change as you go through the range – the entry level RX 300 Premium gets an 8-inch touchscreen over the larger 12.3-inch units for the RX 300 Luxury and RX 300 F SPORT.

All models get electrically assisted front seats, though surprisingly the RX 300 Luxury and RX 300 F SPORT get eight-way adjustment instead of the ten-way adjustment found on the entry level variant. Navigation and wireless charging are also limited to the higher two variants, while the ever alluring F SPORT multi-info display in its 8-inch glory is reserved for the F SPORT variant.

Lexus RX 2021-2022 Fuel Consumption

The manufacturer quoted fuel consumption figure for the Lexus RX is the same across all variants, as they share the same powertrain. This stands at 8.4 litres per 100 kilometres, which translates to roughly 11.9 kilometres per litre of fuel. Being a turbocharged engine, the fuel consumption figure can vary relatively largely depending on how you drive, as the more often and the harder you spool your turbo, the more fuel it burns.